Jack Janet Smurl [exclusive] Page

One thing is certain: The haunting of Jack and Janet Smurl remains one of the most polarizing, fascinating, and terrifying stories in American paranormal history.

For believers, the Smurl case is Exhibit A for the reality of demonic infestation. For skeptics, it’s a cautionary tale of mass hysteria and media manipulation.

Yes, those Warrens.

Whether you think they were besieged by demons or trapped by their own imaginations, the image of a family huddled together on the first floor of a dark Pennsylvania home, listening to the footsteps above—that fear is very, very real. Have you ever experienced something you couldn’t explain? Share your story in the comments below.

This is the story of 208 Chase Street in West Pittston. For Jack and Janet Smurl, the home on Chase Street was supposed to be a fresh start. A solid, three-bedroom duplex in a quiet neighborhood. By 1974, they had moved in with their three daughters, and for a while, life was normal. Jack worked for the county, Janet managed the household, and the biggest problem was the usual suburban chaos. jack janet smurl

It started small. Janet reported hearing heavy footsteps in the hallway when no one was there. The family dog would growl at an empty corner of the basement. Pictures would tilt on the walls overnight.

The Warrens performed a series of blessings and advised the Smurls to request an official exorcism from the Catholic Church. When the Church reportedly declined (citing insufficient evidence), the Warrens conducted their own rites. The haunting became a national sensation. In 1988, author Robert Curran published The Haunted: The True Story of One Family’s Nightmare , which detailed the Smurls’ ordeal and was later adapted into a TV movie. One thing is certain: The haunting of Jack

But according to the Smurls, the quiet ended in 1986.